Frances Louvre Museum announced on Tuesday, December 23, that it has installed security bars on the balcony that thieves used during an October burglary in which valuable crown jewels were stolen. On October 19, four intruders carried out a swift and carefully planned break-in at the world’s most visited museum, making off with jewels estimated to be worth 102 million US dollars. The incident highlighted serious weaknesses in the museum’s security and drew attention to the deteriorating condition of parts of the building. The thieves positioned a moving lift outside the museum, leapt onto the Apollo Gallery balcony, shattered a window, and cut open display cases using angle grinders before escaping on scooters driven by accomplices. The entire operation took less than seven minutes.

To prevent similar incidents, a crane was used on Tuesday to install a security grille sealing the glass door that leads to the balcony. In a statement posted on X, the Louvre said it is applying the lessons learned from the theft and strengthening its overall security system. Additional measures include the deployment of a mobile police unit at the roundabout near the museum’s iconic glass pyramid and the planned installation of 100 new security cameras around the site next year. Authorities have identified eight suspects linked to the robbery, although the stolen jewels have not yet been recovered.

The incident raised uncomfortable questions about museum security. Louvre officials acknowledged that camera coverage on the exterior walls was insufficient and that the balcony involved in the break-in had no surveillance at all. The burglary added to a series of recent difficulties for the museum. A nearby gallery had to be closed due to structural issues, a water leak damaged books in the Egyptian antiquities department, and the museum was partially shut for several days following a staff strike.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.